For Hawai'i students who are heading to the Mainland for college, getting ready for class means more than just stocking up on books, paper and pens.

Heading to school requires preparedness for life away from family and high school friends, year-round warmth, loco moco and shave ice, and, for many, the beach.

For Kacy Church, a senior at Willamette University in Salem, Ore., the initial excitement of going away to college wore off slowly. "I didn't get homesick until my sophomore year. Now it seems I never want to leave (the Islands)," she said via e-mail from Oregon, where she was doing an internship this summer. "It might be that I was so much younger when in Hawai'i and had a lot less responsibility, but I miss dropping everything to go on a hike with a friend just to talk for hours."

The Punahou grad deals with life away from home by paying attention to her experiences. She started a journal her sophomore year, for one.

"I like to change the look of my room every time I come up (to college), so I bring a different picture frame or stuffed animal to remind me of home," she said. "But I also keep my college life a distinctly different home."

WHAT TO BRING?

With only two suitcases allowed as check-in luggage, students have to prioritize what crosses the water with them.

First, do some research, and decide what you really need.

"I think I brought my entire house my freshman year," said Church, who has since learned to scale down. "I've realized the things I really need and leave a lot of the extras behind. I really don't need to bring that fifth swimsuit in the middle of winter."

Meanwhile, Kahuku grad Ian Tapu, who spent his sophomore summer at Dartmouth College taking classes, says, "I definitely wish I brought more surf shorts with me. I was under the impression that it's always cold, so I didn't really prepare." In fact, Hanover, N.H., can get pretty hot and humid.

Then decide what items will help relieve homesickness, and so warrant space in the luggage.

"I always gotta bring all those Hawaiian goodies that you can't find here," said Tapu. "So my drawer is full with li hing mui powder, mac nuts, strawberry belts, mochi crunch and Hurricane Popcorn mix."

Davis Tanaka, a Moanalua grad and sophomore at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif., makes sure his suitcase holds full-moon shrimp chips, furikake, kakimochi "and anything li hing," he said with a laugh.

In addition to Island foods, sentimental items can help students cope with the occasional longing for home.

Like Church, Tapu brings up pictures of family and high school friends to decorate his dorm room. "I'm a big visual person, so I have a lot of pictures from home. It's the only thing that keeps me sane here," he said jokingly.

Joining Tapu's photographs is a letter from his mom hanging on his wall. She snuck the letter into his suitcase when he first set off for the East Coast by himself. "It's something inspirational to give me that push," he said.

He also decorates his room with a Hawaiian quilt his auntie made for him. "It's a good reminder of home. It's on my futon, so it's usually the first thing people see when they come in my room," he said.

'ONOLICIOUS RELIEF

When Mainland students really need a taste of home, they call their parents to send a relief package.

"I get the home-loving by talking to my parents on the phone, but you can't get coffee that tastes as good as the ones from Hawai'i," said Church, who's a fan of the vanilla macadamia nut flavor. "The flavors just remind me of home."

Laurie Okinaga, an incoming senior at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., orders supplies from Hawai'i for her friends. It's her roommate who has cravings for Big Island chocolate-dipped shortbread cookies.

"Most of the stuff is for my Mainland friends," she said in an e-mail, "though once in a while I'll ask (Mom) for those Diamond Bakery sprinkle cookies."

Tanaka doesn't even have to ask. He receives packages filled with snacks and instant noodles about twice a week from his parents, aunties and friends' parents.

"At the end, I tell them to stop because I can't keep up," he said.

LAST WISHES

If you only had X number of days to live, what would you do? It almost seems like that's what students are asking themselves as they get ready to leave for the Mainland.

"I eat as much as I can at home and I go to the beach as much as I can — all the things you know you're not getting," said Tapu. He adds another priority: "I just have to see all my cousins before I leave."

Okinaga also makes sure she has plenty of family time and looks forward to the traditional "last-Sunday-night dinner with my huge family before I leave."

Meanwhile, Church, who's home for 27 days in August, can't wait to spend downtime with family, friends and at the beach after interning at school all summer. "Hitting the water and the sand with some Manoa Sushi in hand and I am a happy camper," she said.

Reach Christine Terada at cterada@honoluluadvertiser.com .